Farmers meet MPs in London

Farmers meet MPs in London

18 July 2018

TWO local men were part of a delegation representing Northern Ireland’s farming community which met with a committee of MPs at Westminster on Monday to discuss the implications of Brexit.

Seaforde arable farmer Alan Chambers and Killinchy-based vegetable grower Adrian McGowan gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

The delegation explained the Brexit issue has proved “divisive” among Northern Ireland’s farmers who need certainty soon on the future of the industry after the UK leaves the EU.

Representatives of all the main agriculture sectors gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs committee which is holding an inquiry into the impact of Brexit on farming.

Farmers spoke of the opportunities and challenges presented by the biggest change for farming in a generation and MPs also heard a plea for any future policy to protect family farms on so-called  marginal ground and prevent land abandonment.

MPs were told how unfettered access to the GB market was “key” to sectors such as pigs and poultry and there were opportunities for greater expansion there.

Also on Monday, politicians were told how 30% of Northern Ireland milk crosses the border for processing and that EU markets were important especially for sheep sales.

The MPs were presented with issues which farmers believed were holding back the industry in Northern Ireland, including the “gold-plating” of regulations by officials and problems obtaining planning permission because of ammonia concerns.

Mr Chambers said there would need to be some kind of “area based payment” to ensure continued crop growing in Northern Ireland, something he said that had reduced by two thirds over the past 50 years.

He said arable farmers provided an important environmental service creating conditions for farmland birds and other wildlife and questioned whether people in Northern Ireland wanted it to become just a “green carpet of grass” for use by the livestock industry.

Mr McGowan said labour issues post Brexit were important for businesses like his, explaining how it was becoming increasingly difficult for Northern Ireland producers to get their vegetables into traditional markets in the Republic of Ireland.